Creating Memorable Birthdays with Mobile Celebrations

Posted on 3/26/2013

The United States is one of the wealthiest countries in
the world, yet child poverty remains a problem in some regions. Despite its
wealth, the United States leads the developed
world when it comes to the proportion of children living in poverty.
Children belonging to ethnic minorities are particularly at risk, with child
poverty rates ranging between 40 and 70 percent among all children in some
states. For children growing up in impoverished communities, a birthday
celebration is too often an unrealized dream. To help children in some of
America's poorest communities have the chance to celebrate a happy and memorable
birthday, ChildFund has launched a campaign to provide mobile celebrations to
American children enrolled in our programs in North and South Dakota, Oklahoma,
Mississippi and Texas.

Creating Memories

A birthday should be a
time of celebration, but for one in five American children, the day may pass
with no party or presents. We hope to provide these children and their families
with an occasion to remember.

ChildFund's mobile
celebrations Fund a Project will provide essential equipment like baking
utensils, cake ingredients, balloons and other materials to families and 600
children across five communities so their birthdays and other milestones can be
true celebrations. Ten children and their families will directly benefit from
each mobile celebration, which brings communities together for a party that they
likely can't afford to have individually.

A Strong Foundation

Children living in
poverty not only miss out on the opportunity to celebrate their birthday like
more privileged children, but they often begin their lives with a diminished
sense of self-worth. Bringing communities together through celebrations is an
excellent way to develop greater social cohesion and enables children and their
families to strengthen bonds with other members of the community. Party customs
also reinforce cultural values.

Experiencing something
as simple as a memorable birthday party helps children feel like they belong and
holds great social and personal significance. "Children, like adults, are driven
to seek explanations for personal, meaningful events," Jacqueline Woolley, a
professor of psychology at the University of Texas, wrote in Psychology
Today. "To children, the annual experience of the seemingly sudden change
from one age to another is of great significance."

Our goal is to raise
$6,435 to provide children living in poverty with the opportunity to enjoy their
birthday and form memories that will last for many years. If you would like to
help make their dreams a reality, please consider making a donation to the mobile
celebrations campaign.